Summary

In the closing verses of Galatians, Paul takes up the pen himself to confront the human impulse to perform for approval, whether religious or worldly. He contrasts the Judaizers’ cowardly, cosmetic religion with true Christian identity found only in the cross of Christ, which crucifies the world to us and us to the world. True freedom comes when we stop polishing our moral resume and rest in the finished work of Jesus, becoming a new creation.

Key Points from the Sermon

• Cosmetic religion is driven by cowardice and the desire to avoid persecution and gain human approval (Galatians 6:12-13)
• The Judaizers wanted converts as trophies to boast in, but Paul refused to boast in anything but the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:13-14)
• The cross creates a total break between the believer and the world’s approval systems—we are dead to the world and the world is dead to us (Galatians 6:14)
• What matters is not external religious conformity but becoming a new creation in Christ (Galatians 6:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
• Paul bore real scars from following Jesus, while the false teachers demanded marks on others’ bodies to protect their own comfort (Galatians 6:17)
• The Christian life begins, is sustained, and finishes by God’s grace alone (Galatians 6:18)

Scripture Readings

Galatians 6:11-18 - Paul’s handwritten conclusion that summarizes the entire letter’s theme: boasting only in the cross rather than religious performance.

Galatians 1:10 - Paul’s opening challenge: you cannot seek human approval and be a servant of Christ.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 - The Old Testament foundation for boasting only in knowing the Lord, which Paul echoes in his closing argument.

Discussion Questions

Read Galatians 6:11-18

1. According to verses 12-13, what motivated the false teachers to push circumcision on the Galatians? What does Paul say they were really after?

2. Paul says in verse 14 that through the cross ‘the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’ What do you think it means to be ‘dead to the world’ and for the world to be ‘dead to you’?

Compare Galatians 6:14 with Galatians 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 1:27-31.

3. How do these passages together shape a Christian’s approach to seeking approval? Whose approval are we free to stop chasing, and whose approval truly matters?

4. Pastor Orrin described an ‘invisible trophy room’ where we polish achievements and manage reputations. What are some of the ‘trophies’ we put in our trophy rooms? What are some ways we are tempted to seek man’s approval before God’s?

5. Paul says he bore on his body ‘the marks of Jesus’. What might it cost you to faithfully follow Jesus (comfort, reputation, social ease, finances)? Are we willing to pay that cost?

Reflect on Galatians 6:15.

6. What are some examples of religious performances in our culture?

7. If external religious performance counts for nothing and only ‘a new creation’ matters, how should this reshape the way we evaluate our spiritual lives and disciple others?

“There is a time coming shortly, when a smile from God’s face will be infinitely better than all the applause of men. How sweet that word will be, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ ”

• Thomas Watson, The Godly Man’s Picture (1666), on sincerity, §2.

Application

This Week’s Challenge: This week, identify one specific way you have been performing for human approval rather than God’s approval. Confess it to God, then take one concrete step to lay that ‘trophy’ down: have an honest conversation instead of maintaining a polished image, or refuse to compromise a conviction to avoid social discomfort. Each day, preach the gospel to yourself: ‘I contribute nothing to my salvation except the sin that made it necessary’

Prayer Focus: Praise God for the completed work of the Cross. Ask God to direct our desires for approval only to Him and to consider the world as “crucified to me…”

Memory Verse

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” — Galatians 6:14

Resources

• Commentary on Galatians by John Calvin
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson